English
President Tsai addresses AmCham Taipei’s 2020 Hsieh Nien Fan
President Tsai Ing-wen delivered the keynote remarks on her administration is committed to securing a robust investment environment at AmCham Taipei’s annual Hsieh Nien Fan banquet last evening at the Grand Hyatt Taipei. Also speaking at the dinner was American Institute in Taiwan Director Brent Christensen, who congratulated AmCham on the successful event.
During her remarks, President Tsai recognized the important role played by AmCham Taipei in the strong partnership between Taiwan and the United States. She stressed that the close partnership between Taiwan and the US has given us the opportunity to advocate for further cooperation in the form of a bilateral trade agreement (BTA).
In his pre-dinner remarks, AmCham Taipei Chairperson C.W. Chin commended President Tsai and her administration for the competence and efficiency that they have demonstrated in combating the coronavirus. As integral members in the foreign business community in Taiwan, AmCham Taipei is proud that Taiwan has been a model of transparency and good governance internationally.
On U.S.-Taiwan relations, Chin said that “we have heard both U.S. and Taiwan officials say that those relations currently are the best they have ever been.” In addition to the recent visit made by Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, Chin also mentioned Congressional support for Taiwan, recent significant arms deals, and growing trade and investment relationships. “In the first half of this year, Taiwan moved up from 10th to 9th place among America’s trading partners, and during at least one month it was number 8,” Chin added.
Given the warm relationship and large volume of trade, Chin noted that “it makes perfect sense for the two sides (U.S. and Taiwan) to enter into negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement.
During his remarks, Chin on behalf of AmCham’s members paid tribute to late President Lee Teng-hui. President Lee was the first head of government of Taiwan to give the keynote speech at Hsieh Nien Fan back in 2000. Lee established a tradition that has been followed annually by each president since then. And tonight, Chin remarked, the keynote speech was delivered “by President Tsai Ing-wen as she has done each year of her presidency.”
The purpose of the Hsieh Nien Fan is to thank Taiwan government officials, as well as local business leaders and scholars, for their constructive interaction with the foreign business community over the past year. This year’s event, the 52nd annual, was attended by over 130 government officials and other dignitaries.
For more information, please contact:
Patrick Lu
[email protected]
(02) 2718-8226 Ext. 213
Gwenyth Wang-Reeves
[email protected]
(02) 2718 8226 #314
Chinese
蔡總統蒞臨台北市美國商會謝年飯並發表演說
蔡英文總統前（25日）晚蒞臨台北市美國商會在台北君悅酒店舉行的年度「謝年飯」晚宴。蔡總統在主題演說中強調，執政團隊將致力打造有利各方的健全投資環境。美國在台協會台北辦事處酈英傑處長亦出席晚宴，祝賀美國商會謝年飯圓滿成功。
蔡總統演說時肯定台北市美國商會在台美堅實夥伴關係中扮演的重要角色。蔡總統並強調，台美的密切夥伴關係使雙方有機會進一步合作，提議洽簽雙邊貿易協定。
台北市美國商會會長金奇偉在開幕致詞中，盛讚蔡總統及其執政團隊在打擊新冠肺炎疫情展現之能力與效率。身為台灣外商社群中重要的成員之一，台北市美國商會對台灣成為國際透明度及良善治理模範甚感驕傲。
對於美台關係，金奇偉會長表示：「我們欣聞美國與台灣官員都認為雙邊關係正處於史上最佳狀態。」除美國衛生部長阿札爾近期訪台外，金奇偉亦提及美國國會對台灣的支持、對台軍售，以及逐漸增加的貿易與投資關係。金奇偉表示：「今年上半年，台灣已躍升為美國第9大貿易夥伴，甚至有一個月排名第8。」
鑒於台美關係升溫與貿易量增加，金奇偉認為：「美國與台灣進行雙邊貿易協議談判合情合理。」
金奇偉在演說中也代表商會會員對李前總統登輝先生離世表示哀悼。李前總統在2000年蒞臨商會謝年飯並發表演說，是首位出席謝年飯的中華民國總統。李前總統建立了總統出席商會謝年飯的傳統，金奇偉會長特別感謝蔡總統今年仍延續此傳統。
台北市美國商會謝年飯旨在感謝過去一年來自台灣政府官員、商界領袖與學者給予外商的支持與建設性互動。謝年飯晚宴今年已邁入第52屆，有超過130位政府官員參與今年的盛會。
Patrick Lu 呂彥芃
[email protected]
(02) 2718-8226 Ext. 213
Gwenyth Wang-Reeves 王珮馨
[email protected]
(02) 2718 8226 #314
